Chapter 335

The defeated remnants of the Iron Blood First City huddled in a small part of the city's buildings.

Translation: "The defeated remnants of Iron Blood First City huddled in a small part of the city's buildings."

Note: 'defeated remnants' means defeated remnants; 'huddled in a small part of the city's buildings' means huddled in a small part of the city's buildings. Good.

The drought demon altar hovered above the several‑mu‑sized building complex, with the Xuanming butterfly perched on it, letting out a 'keekee' cackle—like an evil ghost jumping out at midnight to frighten children.

Translation: "The Drought Demon Witch Altar hovered above this complex of buildings spanning dozens of mu, while the Profound Dark Butterfly stood on the altar, laughing 'jie jie' eerily, like an evil ghost jumping out at night to scare children."

We should render the onomatopoeia as an English sound word, for example 'keekee'.

We'll produce: "The Drought Demon Witch Altar hovered above this complex of buildings spanning dozens of mu, while the Profound Dark Butterfly stood on the altar, laughing 'keekee' eerily, like an evil ghost jumping out at night to scare children."

Xingtian Xian led a pack of Wu clan youths, fierce as wolves and tigers and reeking of blood, who bared their teeth and surrounded several long‑robed, high‑capped, refined order officers.

Translation: "Xing Tian Shan led a group of Wu Family disciples, fierce as wolves and tigers, reeking of blood, who bared their teeth and surrounded several long-robed, high-capped, refined Order Officers."

Note: 'fierce as wolves and tigers' = fierce as wolves and tigers; 'reeking of blood' = reeking of blood; 'bared their teeth' = bared their teeth; 'long‑robed, high‑capped' = long‑robed, high‑capped; 'refined' = refined; 'Order Officer' = Order Officer.

"Sir, what did you just say?" Xingtian Xian, though affecting a refined manner and addressing them as 'Sir', gave no sign of respect.

Translation: "'Sir, what did you just say?' Xing Tian Shan, though putting on a scholarly airs, addressed these Order Officers as 'Sir,' but his actions showed not a shred of respect."

We should keep the honorific translated as 'Sir', and render the phrase 'used that honorific to address them' as 'addressed … as "Sir"'.

While speaking, Xingtian Xian poked his ear with his little finger, pulled out a large chunk of dried blood, flicked it, and the half‑solidified blood clot landed on an order officer's chest, sticking fast to his robe.

Translation: "While speaking, Xing Tian Shan picked his ear with his little finger, then pulled out a large piece of dried blood; flicking his finger, the half-solid blood clot landed on an Order Officer's chest, sticking firmly to the robe."

The pale‑faced, long‑bearded, dignified order officer's face froze.

Translation: "The white-faced, long-bearded, dignified Order Officer's expression froze."

Taking a deep breath and suppressing his anger, the order officer said in a cold voice, "I am Officer Xi Ling."

Translation: "Taking a deep breath and suppressing his anger, the Order Officer said coldly, 'I am Xi Ling.'"

Xingtian Xian's expression grew somewhat solemn, though only slightly.

Translation: "Xing Tian Shan's expression became somewhat solemn, though only slightly."

Xi Ling, a member of the Xi clan… he is royalty of the Fuxi Divine Kingdom, yet coming to the battlefield as a mere order officer shows he cannot be a major heir; nevertheless, out of respect for his surname, some courtesy is due.

Translation: "Xi Ling, a member of the Xi Clan… he is royalty of the Fuxi Divine State, sent to the battlefield as an Order Officer; clearly he cannot be a major direct-line heir, yet out of respect for his surname we must show some deference."

Regardless of how some members of the Xi clan behave, the founder of the Fuxi Divine Kingdom is remarkable. This colossal Fuxi Divine Kingdom has, over the years, indeed held back the attacks of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom, propping up a vast expanse of sky for the underground tribes.

Translation: "No matter how some of the Xi Clan behave, the founder of the Fuxi Divine State is remarkable. This colossal Fuxi Divine State has indeed blocked the Great Jin Divine State's invasions over the years, propping up a vast expanse of sky for the underground tribes."

"Sir, you seemed to say just now that we Wu clan brought out the drought demon altar." Xingtian Xian gave a simple‑honest smile, looked at Xi Ling and said, "No, lately our Wu clan's harvest has been poor—no grain—so we thought we'd take this chance to seize more."

Translation: "'Sir just said we Wu Family brought out the Drought Demon Witch Altar,' Xing Tian Shan chuckled 'honestly,' looking at Xi Ling and saying, 'Isn't it? Our Wu Family's harvest failed lately—no grain—so this time we aim to seize more on the way back.'"

He scratched his scalp, tearing off several half‑solidified blood chunks and throwing them to the ground, then glanced at Xi Ling with a blink: "Around here it's all barren hills and wild ridges—even ghosts would starve… where is there plenty of fodder? The Hundred‑and‑Eight Iron Blood Cities!"

Translation: "He scratched his scalp, flinging a few half-solid blood clumps to the ground, then Xing Tian Shan glanced at Xi Ling: 'Around here it's all barren hills—ghosts would starve—where's there plenty of fodder? Iron Blood One Hundred Eight Cities!'"

"So you Wu clan disregarded the ban and brought out such a great weapon?" Xi Ling snapped, "Have you considered what would happen if this clan‑defending heavy weapon fell into the hands of the Great Jin demons…"

Translation: "'So you Wu Family, disregarding the ban, brought out such a great killer?' Xi Ling snapped, 'Have you considered what if such a clan-defending heavy weapon fell into the hands of the Great Jin Evil Demons…'"

Pointing at Xingtian Xian, furious and breathless, Xi Ling had yet to finish his sentence. "Because of the poor harvest, you've come to attack a mighty city like Iron Blood, and in one fell swoop you've taken Iron Blood First City… With this excuse and this strength, do you think I'm a fool?"

Translation: "Xi Ling, furious, pointed at Xing Tian Shan, a sentence still unspoken. Because the harvest failed, they attacked a mighty city like Iron Blood City, even taking Iron Blood First City in one go… this excuse, this strength—do you think Xi Ling is a fool?"

"That would mean we'd all have to die…" Xingtian Xian rudely cut him off: "Hey, old man, I'll give you respect and call you 'Sir'; if not, you're just a lackey sent around to deliver orders."

Translation: "'We'd all have to die first,' Xing Tian Shan rudely cut off Xi Ling: 'Hey, old-timer, I'll give you a 'Sir' out of respect; without it, you're just a lackey running errands for others.'"

"Our Wu clan's clan‑defending treasure, if we bring it out we will naturally protect it fully. You claim our treasure could fall into the Great Jin demons' hands—are you cursing us to die?" A flash of arrogant, unreasonable fury crossed Xingtian Xian's eyes: "Are you cursing our thirty‑plus thousand Wu clan youths to die here? What's your motive?"

Translation: "'Our Wu Family's clan-defending treasure, if we bring it out, we'll naturally protect it well. You say our clan-defending treasure falling into Great Jin Evil Demons' hands… are you cursing us to die?' A flash of ruthless, unreasonable light crossed Xing Tian Shan's eyes: 'You're cursing the tens of thousands of Wu Family youths to die here? What's your motive?'"

Wu Tie, mingling in the crowd, gave a neutral grunt: "Perhaps he's cursing us, or maybe he's colluding with the Great Jin demons."

Translation: "Wu Tie mingled in the crowd, grunting neutrally: 'He's cursing us, or perhaps he's colluding with the Great Jin Evil Demons?'"

Wu Tie's remark… although it's basically true, in this atmosphere and context any reasonable person would see it as sowing discord, adding fuel to the fire—an immoral act.

Translation: "Wu Tie's remark… though true, in this atmosphere and context normal people would see it as sowing discord, adding fuel to the fire—an immoral act."

Yet among the Wu clan men present, several with brains far weaker than their brawn—literally, their brain development is ten times weaker than their muscles—rang out a 'clang' as they brandished their heavy weapons, grim‑faced and ready to charge at Xi Ling.

Translation: "Yet among the Wu Family men present, several with brains ten times smaller than their bellies brandished their heavy weapons with a 'clang,' grim-faced, ready to charge at Xi Ling."

We should render the onomatopoeia as an English sound word, for example 'clang'.

The few refined, long‑robed, high‑capped men behind Xi Ling shuddered all over; the ornaments on their attire flashed with spiritual light, and layers of protective seals wrapped them tightly, while two of them had faint white vapors rising from their feet, clearly ready to shoot straight up and flee at a moment's notice.

Translation: "The few refined, long-robed, high-capped gentlemen behind Xi Ling shuddered, their pendants flashing a spiritual light as over ten layers of protective seals wrapped them tight; two men had wisps of white cloud rising beneath their feet, clearly prepared to shoot straight up and flee at a moment's notice."

Xingtian Xian gave a cold snort, glanced sideways at the overly impulsive youths, and snorted: "What? What? I haven't even spoken yet—do you lot get to strike first?"

Translation: "Xing Tian Shan gave a cold snort, glanced askance at the overly impulsive clan youths, and snorted: 'What? What? I haven't spoken yet—do you lot get to hack people before me?'"

He shook his head, smiled at Xi Ling, and said, "Don't worry, Sir; my Wu clan lads are a rough bunch, but they're reasonable… you're an envoy sent by the Qi Shuai, so don't lower yourself to their level."

Translation: "Shaking his head, Xing Tian Shan smiled at Xi Ling: 'Sir, don't fear—my Wu Family lads are a rough bunch, but they reason… you're an Order Officer sent by the Marvelous Commander; don't stoop to their level.'"

He gave a dry cough, spat a big glob of phlegm on the ground, then lunged forward, bending low to bring his face close to Xi Ling's—pale from anger or fear—and muttered in a low voice, "You're an order officer; just deliver the orders… stop meddling. My clan has an old saying that holds true: those who meddle in others' affairs usually don't live long."

Translation: "He gave a dry cough, spat a big mouthful of thick phlegm on the ground, then Xing Tian Shan lunged forward, bending to bring his face near Xi Ling's—pale from anger or fear—and growled low: 'You're an Order Officer; just relay the orders… stop meddling… my family has an elder who said it well: those who meddle don't live long.'"

Xi Ling and his pale‑faced colleagues instantly turned a bluish‑black.

Translation: "Xi Ling and the pallid faces of his aides behind him instantly turned bluish-black."

So arrogant, so reckless… frankly… frankly… if Xi Ling were a high‑ranking power‑holder of the Fuxi Divine Kingdom, he would certainly not let Xingtian Xian off the hook.

Translation: "So arrogant, so reckless… frankly… frankly… if Xi Ling were a high-ranking power-holder of the Fuxi Divine State, he would certainly not let Xing Tian Shan off."

But considering his own position… Xi Ling gritted his teeth and forced out a few words.

Translation: "But considering his own status… Xi Ling gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words from between them."

"The Qi Shuai has ordered: let your Wu clan army cooperate with his central troops."

Translation: "'The Marvelous Commander orders: have your Wu Family army cooperate with his Regular Army Camp in battle.'"

Xingtian Xian fell silent.

Translation: "Xing Tian Shan fell silent."

The Wu clan youths fell silent.

Translation: "The Wu Family youths fell silent."

Wu Tie gazed solemnly at Xi Ling and suddenly asked, "Logistically, delivering orders should be the duty of the Qi Shuai's marching commander, General Luo Lin—why is it you, Sir?"

Translation: "Wu Tie stared solemnly at Xi Ling, then suddenly asked: 'By rights, delivering orders should be the Marshal of the March Luo Lin, sir's responsibility—why are you, sir, doing it?'"

Xi Ling gave Wu Tie a mocking glance: "Under the Qi Shuai there are over a hundred marching commanders, and thousands of order and legal officers… what did you think?"

Translation: "Xi Ling gave Xing Tian Shan a mocking glance: 'Under the Marvelous Commander there are over a hundred Marshals of the March, and thousands of Order Officers and Law Officers of all ranks… what do you think?'"

Wu Tie said coldly, "I see. Then what plans does the Qi Shuai's central army have that require our Wu clan's cooperation."

Translation: "Wu Tie said coldly: 'I see. Then what plans does the Marvelous Commander's Regular Army Camp have that require our Wu Family's cooperation?'"

Xi Ling shook his hand, and a heavy animal‑skin scroll thumped into Xingtian Xian's palm: "The order is written clearly here—you must rush to Demon‑Suppressing City tonight to support the elite unit's attack on Demon‑Suppressing City."

Translation: "Xi Ling's hand trembled as a beast‑skin scroll thudded into Xing Tian Shan's palm: 'The order is written clearly—you must rush to Demon Suppressing City tonight to support the Marvelous Army Camp's attack on Demon Suppressing City.'"

Wu Tie sucked in a breath of cold air.

Translation: "Wu Tie sucked in a cold breath."

Demon‑Suppressing City—the place that, by day, bears twelve gigantic void‑sealing wheels, its spatial‑binding power so great that even Wu Tie cannot break free, and which hoards countless troops and boasts astonishing defensive strength?

Translation: "Demon Suppressing City—that place with twelve giant Void‑Sealing Treasure Wheels by day, whose spatial sealing power is so great Wu Tie can't break free, and which hoards countless troops and boasts astonishing defensive strength?"

Never mind other details—You Ruo and the others are inside the city.

Translation: "Never mind that—You Ruo and company are inside the city."

And Xi Qi, who consorts with You Ruo and others, selling human soul crystals and the three sovereigns' essence blood, has ordered the Wu clan to support his central troops in attacking Demon‑Suppressing City?

Translation: "You Ruo's associates, the Xi Qi who trades human spirit crystals and Three Sovereigns' Essence Blood, have ordered the Wu Family people to support his Regular Army Camp's assault on Demon Suppressing City?"

"What does 'support' mean?" Xingtian Xian held the animal‑skin order in silence, and Wu Tie immediately pressed Xi Ling for clarification.

Translation: "'What does "support" mean?' Xing Tian Shan held the beast‑skin order silently, while Wu Tie immediately pressed Xi Ling for clarification."

"Support means you don't need to fight; just stay on the sidelines, guard the central army's retreat and supply lines." Xi Ling, hands behind his back, said proudly, "This is a fine posting—you don't have to actually engage in battle, just watch from afar and lend support… plus, if we take Demon‑Suppressing City, you'll still earn some merit, which is no small thing."

Translation: "'Support means you don't need to fight; just stay on the flank, guard the Regular Army Camp's retreat line and rear supply routes.' Xi Ling, hands behind his back, said proudly: 'This is a cushy post—no need to actually fight, just watch from afar and lend support… plus, if we take Demon Suppressing City, you'll still get a share of the merit—what a deal!'"

Wu Tie blinked.

Translation: "Wu Tie blinked."

What a great thing!

Translation: "What a great thing!"

Heh, this matter… if Wu Tie believes Xi Qi's words, then his brain is truly addled.

Translation: "Heh, believing Xi Qi's words on this would be a sign of a broken mind."

But, Wu Tie's heart suddenly sank…… Xi Qi is the commander-in-chief of this punitive army; the military orders he issued, if the Wu family openly defied those orders, then…… Heaven only knows what Xi Qi will do.

If Wu Tie were to confess his previous ordeal, where is the evidence?

The stellar essence in those treasure bottles is certainly solid evidence, but this evidence cannot overturn Xi Qi.

The ones who stepped forward were Mister Mu and Luo Lin……

What's more, even if Wu Tie produced this stellar essence, what could he do?

Wu Tie himself could think of a hundred ways to frame himself…… Even, if You Ruo steps forward and gives Wu Tie a light greeting, she could pin the blame of colluding with the Great Jin Divine State firmly on Wu Tie.

So, Wu Tie had better be smarter; he absolutely cannot produce those stellar essences as evidence.

Even if he were smarter, those human soul crystals, those Three Sovereigns' essence blood, even more so cannot be produced. With these things, Xi Qi could more easily frame Wu Tie, pinning the crimes of massacring human compatriots and colluding with the Great Jin demons on Wu Tie.

Besides this, Wu Tie has no other evidence.

He has no way to deal with Xi Qi at all.

As the commander-in-chief of this campaign, Xi Qi can easily frame Wu Tie and the Wu family however he wishes.

Xing Tian Xian opened the leather military order, glanced at it, fell silent for a moment, and murmured: "Our Wu family has always just been loafing around in the Hunting Camp……"

Xi Ling said coldly: "The Hunting Camp is also a unit under Commander Qi's command; the Hunting Camp's personnel must also obey Commander Qi's orders. Obey the military orders, or face military law. Either support the main army's advance, or your Wu family is simply disobeying orders—don't blame Commander Qi for being ruthless."

Several huge square flying carpets flew out from the rear mountain ridge, landing silently on the ground.

Xi Ling pointed at those flying carpets and said coldly: "These flying carpets are for the Wu family to mobilize troops. In short, you must reach outside Demon-Suppressing City by midnight tonight—military orders are as immovable as a mountain; the Wu family must not falter."

After a few cold chuckles, Xi Ling lowered their gaze to the blood scab stuck on their chest; a flicker of spiritual light flared, burning the scab into a wisp of blue smoke. Vast clouds rose beneath their feet as they, accompanied by several comrades, flew toward the Great Rift Valley.

Strangely, in all of Commander Xi Qi's main army's past punitive campaigns, they feared we would steal credit, simply casting us aside to act alone. Xing Tian Xian, holding the leather military order, muttered: "This time I've seen a ghost—how could they think of letting the Wu family play a supporting role, share the credit?"

Wu Tie fell silent for a moment, parted the crowd, and walked up to Xing Tian Xian's side: "Ancestor Xian, I have some things here that I need to discuss with you and Ancestor Die."

Wu Tie forcibly dragged Xing Tian Shan and Xuan Ming Die into a half-collapsed stone building, then recounted everything he had seen, heard, and experienced over the past few days in detail.

The faces of Xing Tian Shan and Xuan Ming Die turned marvelously varied, then they both sneered coldly.

After Wu Tie produced the over a hundred treasure bottles he had seized, sixty-four pieces of soul essence, and one hundred twenty ice coffins as evidence, Xing Tian Shan's face darkened with rage, while Xuan Ming Die trembled all over from anger.

"Xi Qi… this wretch… he, he, he…" Xing Tian Shan gripped his great axe tightly.

"We can't do anything about him. We have no evidence." Wu Tie said coldly: "Even if we throw away the evidence in our hands, we'll become the prime suspects of colluding with demons. Moreover, the Great Jin Divine State can easily pin the black pot on us."

Xing Tian Shan let out a violent low growl: "With this much star power essence, it's enough to temper the bodies of hundreds of thousands of offspring… We'll ignore everything, we won't bother with this starlight tempering either—just take the kids back."

Wu Tie and Xuan Ming Die simultaneously looked at Xing Tian Shan with the gaze reserved for idiots.

"Go back, how could we go back? Military orders are as immovable as mountains, military law is merciless." Wu Tie let out a soft sigh.

"If we dare to go back, Xi Qi will surely use the power of the Fuxi Divine State to deal with our Wu Clan." Xuan Ming Die said wistfully: "We know this is a trap, but… we find it hard to avoid."

"Are we really going to Demon Suppressing City?" Xing Tian Shan snorted two streams of hot air from his nostrils and blasted a pit about a chi wide on the ground.

"Let's quickly ask the ancestors." Wu Tie spread his hands helplessly: "Perhaps what we find difficult to handle is just this in the eyes of the ancestors."

After a little over half an hour, the last defenders of Iron Blood First City were completely wiped out; Xing Tian Shan and the others transformed into giants and cleanly blew the entire Iron Blood First City into a huge pit sunk hundreds of li underground.

Dozens of flying carpets, each several li in length and width, rose into the air, carrying thirty thousand Wu Clan youths and a massive Drought Demon Wu Altar, flying all the way toward Demon Suppressing City.

Along the way there was no talk; these Fuxi Divine State–specially made flying carpets were extremely fast, and before midnight the Wu Clan army finally arrived deep in the mountains a thousand li outside Demon Suppressing City.

All around were towering mountains, the shortest of which stood tens of thousands of feet high; patches of flying carpets hovered on the mountainsides, packed tightly with Fuxi Divine State warriors.

On the six hundred largest flying carpets were exclusively the fully armed, well-equipped troops of Xi Qi's Regular Troops Camp.

On the other densely packed flying carpets of various sizes were warriors from over a thousand large and small tribes, who had come at the Fuxi Divine State's order to join the punitive expedition.

On a flying carpet ten li long and wide, a huge golden long table was placed in the center; Xi Qi sat solemnly behind it, his expressionless gaze fixed on the many tribal leaders standing before him.

Xing Tian Shan, Xuan Ming Die, and Wu Tie also blended into the crowd, coldly observing Xi Qi seated there, surrounded by many Fuxi Divine State generals and high-level cultivators.

A sturdy dragon-man over five zhang tall, covered in black scales, with a dragon's head on a human body and a pair of dark gold dragon horns on his forehead, stood at the forefront of all the tribal leaders, bellowing in a muffled voice: "In short, if you don't give us a reasonable justification, even if Commander Qi issues an order, don't expect us to follow you to our deaths."

"Can we really take Demon Suppressing City? If it were the proper main forces of the Fuxi Divine State's divine army being dispatched, we would naturally be happy to tag along for the easy pickings… but we're not underestimating you, Commander Qi… the units under your command are nothing like the Three Emperors Camp, Strange Troops Camp, Odd Scholars Camp, and Wandering Hunt Camp—these external detachments; even our own Regular Troops Camp is far from being the proper main combat force of the divine state."

"Commander Qi, where do you get the guts to attack Demon Suppressing City with just your own strength?"

Xi Qi sat squarely and calmly, saying lightly: "As commander, I don't need you to fight; just provide rear support… my forces will naturally take Demon Suppressing City—there's nothing to worry about."

As Xi Qi spoke, his gaze swept sharply across the faces of Xing Tian Shan, Xuan Ming Die, and Wu Tie.

Xing Tian Shan and Xuan Ming Die felt nothing.

Wu Tie, however, felt as if a blade had sliced his face, a faint pain piercing straight to his marrow.